Sue and Tom by Buffy Andrews

asked her out. I remember being so pissed because I knew he didn’t like her as much as I did. No one did. And no one knew how much I liked her but Mike. I can remember his words as if he had spoken them yesterday. “Told you to move faster,” he had said. “You had your opening and you blew it.”
    Mike was right. And now that I had an opening some 20 years later, I wasn’t going to blow it again. I wanted her in my life and I planned to keep her there.
     
    ***
     
    Sue
     
    I heard the doorbell ring and Klondike bark. “Chloe,” I yelled. “Klondike’s here.”
    Chloe bolted from her bedroom and headed for the front door. “Can I take him for a walk?”
    Tom smiled and handed her the leash.
    Tom and I watched Chloe and Klondike head down the sidewalk. “That’s the first she’s been out of her room all day. We had an argument and she’s been holed up in there.”
    “I didn’t think you two argued,” said Tom, following me into the living room.
    “We don’t often. But I’m just not ready to let her date. Neither is her dad. Chloe wants to go out with the boy down the street. He’s seventeen. She’s fourteen.”
    Tom held up his hand. “Say no more.”
    “See, you’re thinking the same thing I am.”
    “I just remember being 17. Of course, I wasn’t one of the lucky ones who had a girlfriend. The girl I wanted was taken.”
    I playfully slapped his arm and he pulled me in for a kiss.
    “It’s true,” he said. “You always had a boyfriend. There was a window of opportunity in the winter of our junior year, but then John swooped in before I got up the nerve to ask you out.”
    I laughed. “Window of opportunity, huh? You make it sound like I entertained a revolving door of guys. ”
    “Whatever happened to John, anyway?” Tom asked.
    “I lost touch after high school. Remember, he was a year older and went into the Army. I think he might have decided to make a career out of it. I’m pretty sure he never moved back.”
    Tom looked at his watch. “I should get going.”
    He handed me a piece of paper. “Here’s all the information in case you need to reach me. I’m going to miss you.” He pulled me closer and our lips found one another.
    “I wish we could have a repeat of the shower sex we had this morning right now,” I whispered in his ear.
    “Me, too,” he said. “But that will give us something to look forward to when I get back.”
    “And just when will that be?”
    “I should be home by 8 Friday night.”
    I playfully grabbed his crotch and winked. “I’ll be waiting for you in your bed.”
    “What, Chloe’s not going to be home?”
    I shook my head. “She’s staying overnight at her best friend’s for a birthday sleepover.”
    “In that case, I’ll really have something to look forward to.
    We kissed a long time before Tom pulled himself away and headed to his car. I was really falling for him. I almost told him I loved him. It was right then that I decided I would tell him Friday night. And I couldn’t wait!
     
    ***
     
    Tom
     
    The entire time I was driving to the airport, I couldn’t stop thinking about Sue. And to think I almost didn’t go to my high school reunion. It was only because Mike and a few of the other guys badgered me so much that I even went. I was sort of embarrassed that I didn’t have a date, but then Mike told me he didn’t either and we could hang out together. Never expected that I’d end up sitting with the one girl from high school that I always wanted to date but never had the chance to.
    Because it was Sunday night, the traffic was light on the Interstate and I got to the airport sooner than I had expected. Security wasn’t too bad either, and by the time I got to the gate, I had plenty of time to spare. So I called Sue.
    “You’re there already?” she asked when she heard my voice.
    “Yeah. Traffic wasn’t bad, and the airport is pretty empty. How’s Klondike?”
    “He’s fine. He hasn’t left Chloe’s side since he came.